Posted on Feb 17, 2017
Similar to the E-2 question, how would you react to a young 2LT who is being unprofessional with a strong sense of entitlement?
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Here's the background. You are an experienced Soldier. You walk in to the commissary to see a young 2LT shopping with a headset on. You professionally and politely get the 2LT’s attention and address the deficiency. They blatantly are rude, dismiss your comment, and tell you that those rules do not apply to him as an officer. Whether you are an Officer or Enlisted, how do you react?
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 445
Oh contraire, he is even more subjected to those rules and regulations as a Commissioned Officer.
I would professionally ask his name, rank, unit, Company and BM Commander's name... and even phone numbers. With that information I would visit one of those leaders to inform them of their new Lieutenant's attitude toward Base policy.
I would professionally ask his name, rank, unit, Company and BM Commander's name... and even phone numbers. With that information I would visit one of those leaders to inform them of their new Lieutenant's attitude toward Base policy.
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When it comes to butter bars I used patience. I got to know them and when I understood them, I destroyed them. Though there were very few I did this to but they came to know that if they had no idea of what my station was I would make them feel like idiots. A CWO warned me once that I walked a fine line between what was right and what was punishable by UCMJ and that I did it very well.
Best was when I made my CO look like an illiterate ass infront of the mess deck (all who delt in Navigation had to watch a stupid powerpoint because Port Royal? Ran her dumbass onto a reef and lost both her screws. When it came down to the Honda Point incident of 1923 where seven destroyers ran aground he asked us "Where were the OS's? Who was manning the radar?" a combination of being tired and missing sleep because of the powerpoint I had enough, stood up and spoke my mind "Sir, with all due respect radar wasnt invented let alone implemented yet and wouldnt be until the later of WW2 when OS's would have been called Radarmen. The reason for this incident was they were using dead reckoning navigation as the CO of the flotilla didnt trust the radio beacon navigation that was new for its time." I was escorted off the mess very quickly by my CWO where I expressed to him I would never follow a CO into battle that pointed senseless blame on a subject he knew very little about and is expected of any CO to know.
This CO was eventually canned and his XO was removed.
Best was when I made my CO look like an illiterate ass infront of the mess deck (all who delt in Navigation had to watch a stupid powerpoint because Port Royal? Ran her dumbass onto a reef and lost both her screws. When it came down to the Honda Point incident of 1923 where seven destroyers ran aground he asked us "Where were the OS's? Who was manning the radar?" a combination of being tired and missing sleep because of the powerpoint I had enough, stood up and spoke my mind "Sir, with all due respect radar wasnt invented let alone implemented yet and wouldnt be until the later of WW2 when OS's would have been called Radarmen. The reason for this incident was they were using dead reckoning navigation as the CO of the flotilla didnt trust the radio beacon navigation that was new for its time." I was escorted off the mess very quickly by my CWO where I expressed to him I would never follow a CO into battle that pointed senseless blame on a subject he knew very little about and is expected of any CO to know.
This CO was eventually canned and his XO was removed.
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Hopefully there's a commander that fixes that problem before it gets to bad for the enlisted Soldiers under him.
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My response to him is; Sir, you are out of regulations by wearing that head set. As an NCO, it is my duty to inform you of this violation and unprofessionalism. You rude response is an insult to my rank and my sir deserve no respect from me.
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In any case whether officer or enlisted, respectfully inform them that all soldiers regardless of rank are expected to follow the same rules and that they risk someone who outranks them taking notice. If they continue to be dismissive; if you are an officer - more than likely you do outrank them and that 2LT needs a lesson regarding their place in the US Army, if you are enlisted - end conversation because eventually they will learn their lesson the hard way.
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How do I react? I rip the damn headphones out of his ears and tell him, don't worry sir, that didn't apply to you.
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My first reaction is that as an EM, I'm not stepping on that landmine. I would seek out a senior NCO or O grade and advise them of the LT's appearance. Let's be honest, unless it was something they merely overlooked - missing brass or uniform malfunction - anyone under E-5 is not getting that LT's ear in a meaningful way. I learned this while speaking to my fresh out of the Citadel PL during a field exercise. We were hiking from one area to another and he was next to me, feeling talkative. I asked what he graduated with. When informed it was some type of Biology Science, I asked why he didn't go into CBR corps. I was immediately responded to with "Being a Yankee (I'm Chicago raised) I wouldn't expect you to understand the importance of Infantry experience to a Southerner, so best to keep your thoughts to yourself". Shocked by the rather blatant put down to my background, I politely pointed out that calling me a Yankee (which I correctly took as an insult, having been in for 2 years at that point and having friendships with my Rebel colleagues ;) was a bit over the line, SIR. I was then informed that it was best we never 'converse' again unless it was strictly work related. Luckily I rotated to my next duty station within 6 months, but those 6 months were not pleasant.
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I would ask him the brigade or battalion he was with and proceed from there. The other side of that is, and I have heard this, I did not do it while I was in. Tell him I more than likely have more time in service than he has in grade LOL. I was also stationed in Korea, and met a LTC there. When we PCS'd on our due times. One of my decisions for where I want was because he was there. I would often meet up with him and shoot the bull on base. I would walk up to him and salute as I approached and he would come to quickly and salute. I guess he would forget since we were friends away from the military that saluting was still required when I approached him on base.
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I would politely and tactfully remind him that He is setting his NCO's up for failure by disregarding the regulations, and that "Joe" sees everything, and "Joe" copies what he sees.
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